Bareun Party

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Bareun Party
바른정당
Party flag
Website
bareun.party
Bareun Party
Hangul
바른정당
Revised RomanizationBareunjeongdang
McCune–ReischauerParŭnjŏngdang
Conservative New Party for Reform
Hangul
개혁보수신당
Revised RomanizationGaehyeokbosusindang
McCune–ReischauerKaehyŏkposusindang

The Bareun Party (Korean바른정당; Hanja바른政黨; RRBareunjeongdang; lit. Righteous Political Party) was a conservative[2][5][6] political party in South Korea, announced on 27 December 2016 with the defection of 29 anti-Park Saenuri Party lawmakers. It was known as the Conservative New Party for Reform until 8 January 2017.[7]

History

The party was formed amidst a faction feud in the Liberty Korea Party (then Saenuri Party) involving pro and anti-Park Geun-hye forces.[8] The party began as a parliamentary negotiation body that split from the Saenuri Party in December 2016, and became a party in January 2017.[8]

Merger

In January 2018, the party's leader, along with the

People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, announced their plans to merge the two parties, in an effort to bolster the two party's parliamentary standing ahead of local elections in June.[9]

The merger faces opposition from members of both parties, citing concerns over differences in ideology and policy, particularly over differing stances on dealing with North Korea.[9] Nevertheless, the party approved the merger plans on 5 February 2018.[10] The merger is expected to be finalized on February 13.[11]

Defections

During its existence, the party suffered from a spate of defections.

2017

By April 2017, the party had already lost 14 lawmakers.[12]

In May, a week before the presidential election, 13 lawmakers affiliated with the party announced their decision to defect and return to the LKP.[12] The decision came after the party's presidential candidate, Yoo Seong-min, declined to join forces with LKP's Hong Joon-pyo and PP's Ahn Cheol-soo and field a single presidential candidate.[12] The defection left the party with just 19 seats in the National Assembly, one short of the 20 required for a political party to be recognized as a negotiating body.[12]

Ahead of a leadership contest in November 2017, an additional eight lawmakers defected, and rejoined the LKP.[13] The eight lawmakers were later joined by the party's floor leader, Joo-Ho-young.[14]

2018

On 9 January 2018, lawmaker Kim Se-yeon,[15] Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil,[16] and lawmaker Park In-sook[16] defected from the party, all of whom rejoined the LKP.[16]

Electoral results

Election Candidate Votes % Result
2017
Yoo Seung-min
2,208,771 6.76 Not elected

See also

References

  1. ^ "Two minor parties merge to create new centrist party". 13 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Bareun Party's rift raises talk of political realignment". The Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. 19 October 2017.
  3. ^
  4. 연합뉴스
    (in Korean). 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  5. ^ Choi Ha-young (13 February 2018). "New centrist party vows to beat two major parties". The Korea Times.
  6. ^ Hong, David Sungjae (25 April 2017). "Impact Player: Yoo Seong-min". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  7. ^ "New conservative party named 'Barun Party'". 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  8. ^
    Yonhap
    . 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  9. ^
    Yonhap
    . 18 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Bareun Party Agrees on Proposal for Merger with People's Party". KBS World Radio. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  11. ^ Choi, Ha-young (30 January 2018). "People's Party, Bareun Party to finalize merger Feb. 13". The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d "13 Bareun Party Lawmakers to Defect to Liberty Korea Party". KBS World Radio. 2 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  13. Yonhap
    . 8 November 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  14. Yonhap
    . 22 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018. Oh filled the void left by Joo Ho-young who bolted from the party last month to join the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).
  15. Yonhap
    . 9 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  16. ^ a b c Choi, Ha-young (16 January 2018). "Yet another Bareun Party lawmaker to defect to LKP". The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.